Elena walked into the office, looking polished and professional in her fitted blazer and heels. She made her way to her desk, where she dropped her bag and switched on her computer.
A moment later, her secretary, Celia appeared at the door. "Good morning, ma'am, You're looking very smart today," she said with a polite smile.
Elena returned the smile, smoothing her jacket. "Good morning, celia. Thank you. What's the schedule looking like for today?"
"Well, you have a meeting with the marketing team in about 10 minutes," Celia replied, checking her notes. "They're going over the projections for the new campaign, and they're looking for your input on the pitch."
Elena's eyes narrowed slightly as she took her seat. "The Smithson deal, I presume?"
Celia nodded. "Yes, that's the one. They've been working on it all week, and they're ready to present it to you."
Elena nodded, her mind already racing with the details. "Good. I'll need the files on my desk, please. And remind me, who's leading the meeting?"
"Alex is leading it, but I think Greg from finance will be joining as well," Rachel replied, her eyes scanning her notes.
Elena nodded again, mentally preparing herself for the meeting. "Okay, thank you, Celia ,I'll head over there in a few minutes. And do let me know when Adam calls, I wonder how long it will take him to handle the issue at that side."
Celia nodded and handed Elena the files. "I've put the relevant documents in the folder. Do you need anything else before the meeting?"
Elena scanned the folder briefly. "No, that's all. Thank you, Celia."
With a nod, Celia left Elena to review the documents. Elena flipped through the pages, jotting down a few notes on her pad. She scribbled a question about the target demographic and another about the competition analysis. Satisfied she was ready, she headed to the conference room.
As she walked in, the team turned to greet her. Alex smiled and gestured for her to take a seat. "Ma'am, thanks for joining us. We're just about to dive into the pitch."
Elena sat down, nodding. "Let's hear it."
Alex launched into the presentation, showcasing the team's work on the campaign. Greg chimed in with the financial projections, and Elena listened intently, asking pointed questions. She probed about the social media strategy, wanting to know more about the influencers they'd partnered with.
When they finished, Elena leaned back in her chair. "Looks solid. I like the direction you're taking with the social media strategy. What's the budget looking like for the rollout?"
Greg spoke up, "We've allocated fifty million dollars for the first phase, with an additional twenty million as contingency fund."
Elena nodded. "Sounds reasonable. Let's move forward with it. Keep me updated on the progress."
The team nodded, making notes. Alex smiled. "Great, thanks for the green light, Ma'am"
Elena stood up. "No problem. Good work, team. I think we've got a strong contender here."
The team smiled, packing up their things. Elena headed back to her office, mentally reviewing the meeting. She was pleased with the progress they'd made. As she sat down at her desk, Celia appeared with a fresh cup of coffee.
"Thanks, Celia," Elena said, taking the cup.
Celia smiled. "No problem. You're going to need it. You've got a busy day ahead."
Elena chuckled, taking a sip. "Sounds about right."
With a smile, Celia l left Elena to her coffee and her thoughts, as she went through the documents on the large rectangular table.
*************
Elena was still at her desk, wrapping up some work, when her phone rang. She answered, seeing Mr. Lucien's name on the screen.
"Elena, my dear," Mr. Lucien's smooth voice came through the phone. "I hope I'm not interrupting anything important."
Elena smiled slightly, swivelling in her chair. "Not at all, Dad. What can I do for you?" She asked remembering how severely he had asked her to call him father.
"I was thinking of having dinner at my place tonight, and I'd love for you to join me," he said, his tone casual but firm.
Elena's expression was neutral, but she was actually quite pleased with the dinner invitation. "I'd love to, father, What time?"
"7 pm would be perfect. My driver will pick you up at your place."
Elena nodded, even though he couldn't see her. "I'll be ready."
As she hung up, she gathered her things and headed out of the office. She had a busy day, and now she had dinner with Mr. Lucien to get to.
When she got home, she went straight to her room to get ready. She chose a classic, elegant outfit: a fitted black dress with a subtle V-neck, paired with understated gold jewellery - a simple necklace and matching earrings. Her hair she kept sleek and pulled back, emphasising her poised features.
As she was about to head out, Juliet and Cassy appeared in the hallway.
"Where are you going?" Juliet asked, her tone suspicious.
Elena paused, looking composed. "Out for dinner," she said, nonchalant.
Juliet raised an eyebrow. "With who?"
Elena shrugged, not bothering to explain. "Just out."
Cassy snorted. "Trying to impress someone?"
Elena ignored them, walking out the door. The chauffeur was waiting to take her to Mr. Lucien's.